Kid Coders

On most weekends, you can find Zoe Stone (not pictured), 8, in front of a computer. But she isn’t playing games or watching videos. She’s learning how to code.

Code is a set of instructions. It tells a computer what to do. Coders, or programmers, are the people who write the instructions for a computer. Coders make websites and applications × application CHUNG SUNG-JUN/GETTY IMAGES a computer program that performs a certain task (noun) I edit videos using an application on my smartphone. , or apps. Apps can be used for everything from playing games to checking the weather.

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Coders solve problems and work together. They know how to think big and small.

Cracking the Code

Zoe has been coding since she was 4 years old. She uses coding to create art, solve puzzles, and customize × customize TIM GREENWAY/PORTLAND PRESS HEARLD —GETTY IMAGES to change something to fit someone's needs (verb) The seamstress will customize the dress to fit you. games.

Zoe likes coding because it is creative. “Coding is really fun,” she told TIME for Kids. “You can show your personality in what you make.”

How did she learn how to code? Zoe takes classes at Code.org. The website offers hundreds of free coding lessons for kids. In fact, more than 29 million students in 180 countries use it.

Students learn the basics of coding through an online program.

The nonprofit hopes to bring coding to even more kids. “We believe that every child should have the opportunity to learn about computers and coding,” Alice Steinglass told TFK. She is the president of Code.org.

For kids looking to give coding a try, Steinglass suggests “Hour of Code.” It’s an introductory × introductory RAINER JENSEN/PICTURE ALLIANCE—GETTY IMAGES providing basic information about a subject (adjective) In middle school, I will take introductory algebra. lesson at Code.org.

“Computers are part of our world,” says Steinglass. “It’s important for kids to understand how they work.”

the president of Code.org. For kids looking to give coding a try, Steinglass suggests “Hour of Code.” It’s an introductory lesson at Code.org. “Computers are part of our world,” says Steinglass. “It’s important for kids to understand how they work.”

Coding Language

People around the world understand different languages. Computers do too. There are many coding languages. One is called Java. It can be used to do difficult math very quickly. Another language is HTML. It is used to make words and pictures appear on a computer screen. Coding languages use words, letters, numbers, and symbols.